Nation IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : Ban Likely on Some Lead Fishing Sinkers

The Environmental Protection Agency, in an action that will affect tens of millions of U.S. fishermen, is moving to impose a ban on the sale and manufacture of some lead fishing sinkers because they pose a threat to waterfowl. In a court filing, the EPA said it would propose a rule banning the sinkers by early next year, after it has determined the toxicity of substitute materials and decided whether they should also be banned. A number of conservation groups have been pushing for a ban on lead fishing sinkers because of evidence that waterfowl, particularly trumpeter swans and common loons, are dying from lead poisoning after ingesting lead sinkers.